The New England Patriots are once again accused of cheating. Tom Brady, who in January we said he didn’t know anything about deflating footballs, has been suspended for the first four games of the upcoming NFL football season for just that reason. He appealed that suspension.

“Deflategate” is “hot news” in all the sports coverage lately. Apparently two equipment guys for the team would let the refs check the footballs and then take them into the restroom and let some of the air out. That makes the ball easier to grip and catch, according to articles that I’ve read. I’m guessing that maybe Brady doesn’t have the biggest hands in the league and was looking for an advantage.

Anyway, I don’t believe there’s any chance he didn’t know it was happening, like we all heard him say after the Colts’ game in the playoffs. Neither he nor the coach, Bill Belichik, admitted to knowing anything about it when they were first accused. It was deny, deny, deny. I have to laugh when Packers fans refer to the coach as Belicheat instead of Belichik.

But for the quarterback, who touches the ball on virtually every offensive play, he has to know if that ball is softer than normal. I heard that he threw two interceptions in that game and the players who caught those two passes knew that there was something wrong with the ball. It’s not rocket science.

It’s got to be tough for people who try to teach their kids to be honest and forthright, and then a football “icon” is nailed for cheating. It is really indefensible. I hope the NFL stands their ground and doesn’t back off on the suspension. All parties involved need to be held accountable. The Patriots are facing a $1 million fine and loss of two draft choices.

And speaking of football, Congratulations to Aaron Rodgers for winning the Tuesday episode of “Jeopardy.” He won $50,000 for the MAC fund, which fights childhood cancer. Definitely a worthy cause.

In a change of subject, my friend Lou, who resides at Linden Manor in Kewaunee told me that the manor provided all the mothers living there with a corsage for Mother’s Day. Well, her next door neighbor Aileen Zachek was holding her pet rabbit, “Buddy,” on Sunday afternoon, and it must have thought that the corsage was lunch, and took a little bite out of it. But apparently he didn’t like it much, because he only took one little bite and left the rest alone. He is quite a bunny.

I had an email the other day that had some funny sayings. One was, “I’ve decided I will never get down to my original weight. After all, 6 pounds 8 ounces isn’t really realistic.”

Barb Ludlow is a former Kewaunee County reporter. Email her at bludlow1@charter.net.